Mismanagement and ‘Monster Trains’ Have Wrecked American Rail

Posted by & filed under Services Marketing, Supply Chain.

Description: After World War II, railroad companies ceded freight, including mail and perishables, to semi trucks and instead favored goods like newsprint, chemicals and steel coils, which could sit in rail yards for days. Many freight companies made this change enthusiastically; trucking’s rise gave them a strong reason to stop servicing goods that were financial and… Read more »

The economics of Costco rotisserie chicken

Posted by & filed under Consumer/Buyer Behavior, Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC), Marketing Research, Marketing Strategy, Pricing, Product Brands and Branding, Relationship Marketing, Retail Marketing, Services Marketing, Supply Chain.

Description: Costco’s popular chickens have stayed fixed at $4.99 for more than a decade — even in the face of raging inflation. But it’s come at a cost. Source: TheHustle.com Date: Oct 08, 2022 Link: https://thehustle.co/the-economics-of-costco-rotisserie-chicken/ Questions for discussion: Why has Costco kept chicken prices fixed? How has this strategy fit with overall branding strategy?… Read more »

Businesses considering added credit card fee to pass on costs as rules change: survey

Posted by & filed under Consumer/Buyer Behavior, Ethics, Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC), Marketing Research, Metrics/Analytics, Pricing, Product Brands and Branding, Relationship Marketing, Retail Marketing, Services Marketing.

Description: Canadians may see a jump in businesses adding credit card surcharges as restrictions on the practice lift this week, though research from the Bank of Canada shows consumers have long been paying extra because of the payment option. ​ Source: Yahoo.Finance.com Date: Oct 05, 2022 Link: https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/nearly-1-5-merchants-considering-131330390.html Questions for discussion: What are the potential… Read more »

McDonald’s will have adult Happy Meals this October

Posted by & filed under Consumer/Buyer Behavior, Innovation, Product Brands and Branding, Retail Marketing, Services Marketing.

Description: For a limited time only, Happy Meals aren’t just for kids. McDonald’s teamed up with the fashion streetwear brand Cactus Plant Flea Market to release an adult meal box, complete with a classic character toy. Source: NPR.org Date: Sep 29, 2022 Link: https://www.npr.org/2022/09/29/1125809528/mcdonalds-adult-happy-meals-october Questions for discussion: What do you think about this promotional effort?… Read more »

No Walks On The Beach As Hilton Focuses On ‘The Stay’

Posted by & filed under Consumer/Buyer Behavior, Innovation, Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC), Market Segmentation, Marketing Research, Relationship Marketing, Services Marketing.

Description: More than 20 years ago, a hotel company made a big deal about having a great bed. And the world went: “Duh.” More recently, Hilton, a brand more associated with lodging than any other, launched a campaign focused on, yes, “The Stay.” So it might be time for another “Duh.” Source: MediaPost.com Date: Sep 14,… Read more »

Burger King unveils $400 million plan to revive U.S. sales with investments in renovations and advertising

Posted by & filed under Consumer/Buyer Behavior, Innovation, Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC), Marketing Strategy, Pricing, Product Brands and Branding, Retail Marketing, Services Marketing, Supply Chain.

Description: Burger King on Friday said it plans to spend $400 million over the next two years on advertising and renovating its restaurants as part of a broader strategy to revive lagging U.S. sales. Source: CNBC.com Date: Sep 09, 2022 Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2022/09/09/burger-king-400-million-plan-to-revive-us-sales-with-remodels-advertising.html Questions for discussion: Summarize the highlights for the future. What do you think… Read more »

Healthcare advertisers hit the reset button

Posted by & filed under Global Marketing, Innovation, Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC), Metrics/Analytics, Services Marketing.

Description: Healthcare delivery went digital in 2020, and so did healthcare and pharma ad budgets. Source: InsiderIntelligence.com Date: Aug 29 , 2022 Link: https://www.insiderintelligence.com/content/healthcare-advertisers-hit-reset-button?ecid=NL1001&utm_campaign=eDaily+Weekender+9.4.2022&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Triggermail&utm_term=eMarketer+Daily+Week+in+Review+CORE%2fEMEA Questions for discussion: What does the report say about digital advertising spending by this industry? How should marketers use this information?

Here’s why tall cans dominate the craft beer market

Posted by & filed under Consumer/Buyer Behavior, Innovation, Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC), Marketing Research, Marketing Strategy, Pricing, Product Brands and Branding, Retail Marketing, Services Marketing.

Description: The tall can — a.k.a. tallboy or pounder — projects both trendiness and blue-collar appeal, experts say Source: CBC.ca Date: Sep 04, 2022 Link: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/costofliving/craft-beer-tall-cans-1.6570989 Questions for discussion: What does the article say about marketing, consumer behavior and the size of beer cans? What do you think about these views? What should marketers do… Read more »

How electric vehicle manufacturing could shrink the Midwestern job market

Posted by & filed under Innovation, Marketing Research, Product Brands and Branding, Relationship Marketing, Retail Marketing, Services Marketing, Supply Chain.

Description: The race to build electric vehicles in the U.S. is heating up as fresh rounds of investment come out of Washington. Workers at the former heart of the auto industry fear being left behind. Source: CNBC.com – video report Date: Sep 04, 2022 Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2022/09/04/ev-manufacturing-may-shrink-us-midwest-auto-parts-trade.html Questions for discussion: What is happening to the industry as the… Read more »

How Barnes & Noble Went From Villain to Hero

Posted by & filed under Consumer/Buyer Behavior, Ethics, Innovation, Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC), Marketing Research, Product Brands and Branding, Relationship Marketing, Retail Marketing, Services Marketing.

Description: After years on the decline, Barnes & Noble’s sales are up, its costs are down — and the same people who for decades saw the superchain as a supervillain are celebrating its success. Source: NYTimes.com Date: April 15, 2022 Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/15/arts/barnes-noble-bookstores.html Questions for discussion: What has happened to the bookselling business and to Barnes… Read more »